Floor furnace valve



Feb 5, 1952 lc. s. srucKENHoLT 2,584,937

y FLOOR FURNACE VALVE Filed April 25, 1947 Q2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 H975 BY VAX@ 14 TORN Y Patented Feb. 5, 1952 UNITED 'STATES 2,584,937 .',FLooR-,FURNAGE fCasper ,S. Stuokenholt South Euclid, 1Ohio.. as- Schoeuherger. ,Cullmann ClevelandfOhKi/o, a corporation'ofphio Anplicationpril 25,

Vvflelanlswheels-7164 'lhis invention relaiestesas Control Valves and specically to ya, main and p ilotgas controlvalve @for an. under-,110er furnace v(usually .ealle'fleer furnacesL Such a valve. vis shown in -C...HS Stuck- ;QWned by rtheassig-nee hereof.

vWhena single control valve is used for both ffmain gasfsupplyandpilot gas supply, it is re- -,qui.red for Asafe furnace voperation, that turning offyof the puotsasrshallonly be ,accomplished esa a ,special manipulation` ofthe, control. lt ,is also considered necessary that a r4special operation shall .begrequired inorder .to move the control ,valve from such pilot-,cut-off position. beyond the -,position,in which thepilotdgas isuagainturnedl user will make .certain rthat the pilotis lighted g before supplying gas to the main burner.

; lFloor, furnaces are usually controlled, by along rod-leading from the main control valve through`- V4agrilledopening inthe floor of,tl1e,bui1ding served bythe furnace and,rheretoforeboth pilot and mainburner gascouldbe admitted tothe fur- ;nace by,.permitting ,operation of sucnrodfalone. -In .the valve ,accordingfto the Stuckenholtpat-lcents, a, specialrnanipulation of therod, such as endwise ,or axial movement of it, was necessary in .order tofadjust t the valve beyond its ,normal lmainsburner .control lrangeof turningmovement into pilot-low and pilot shut-off positions. `:Since;

cutting off of the pilot gas necessitates re-,lighting of the pilot before the gas is again supplied ,to the main burner, therequired special manipulation of the control rod was insuicient in many cases to assure safe operation in the hands-Mv means enabling turning off and/oren of the .plotlwrA gas supply.

Another object is to provide, in a single valve designed to control both main burner and pilot gas supply, in a fioor furnace or similar installation, a device normally inaccessible tothe user,v

:Another object is-to provide a floor f urnacegaskv .1 k on. The second arrangementis in order that the 2 i-yalveeontrol,including aconnection between the usual long orunwieldly valvpositioningrod and ,theyalva plug, 'Whrebythe valve" plug cannot be f,-unseatedlbyanypossible ymanipulation of the rod.

lv enholt, Batents 2,284,994 to 2,284,666, inclusive, i 5 V.(')tlrie'rf,objects and featuresvvillffbefcorfn` appar- 1 ont from the ,ollowing description `vof a preferred ,formof the invention. l f

Eigur-e lgis afragmentary assembly View, show- `ngi theyvalve' and its controlrodand safety pilot 10s, elfliulseee: f l

D isasectional plan. viewpfthevalve as indioated at'Z-Zin'FiguIe 1'; re 3 is Va central vertical,'sectionalyiew i nlithe yalye, .taken as "indicated'at '3ft on nur qz; e i o Figure Lisa horiaontalsectional View in vertican` o set 4planesJ according Jto the, line :ll-f4. on

ig e il; c, v

ure 5 isba I.detail ,sectional 4v.plan view ltaken 204 as Y,miieated bythe line 1.5-5 onFieure `3i and' EigureGis-an exploded view showing thefvalve lug andgtllielprincipal adjustmentA devces`assoeu uireetlvztherewith- Ijhe valve, as lillustrated, is arranged to per- 425;,-form essentiallyA .the same .control functions 4.,as,geife tecl,. for example, by elf'atentfZflQQQ. ergrglsv .fverticalf hor i zontal, .,etc. flare used .herejngfor .convenience only. A single plugvis arranged YV"toccontrol main, burner,l gas iiovv jthrough 30. afmyinz passagefofithe plug and, additionally, to

and outlet threaded sockets -3 and-ll r s'pectively eerumuaeeilees-Wiih) efeeuiel, @aber `li ihreuehuedueed 'd' met@ L The loody.lias,` mounlti ilarige'8by`which .K.it rigidlyh'secured-stoithe furnacefstructureqas 4Joy', attaching. bolts or: screws (not fshown) -The 'plug vI0 of the valvevseats d ovvnvvardlyfin theta- 45 trelied heren. as; shewngpertieularly byfFiei f3 and the fullon position a rnainv diametral transerseK passage `vl Le illenlualteeietere ,etitegeppesite :1endsavithstne ports.,v -,and ,il The nlue is i free toileeituliuedetherefrem-.te various` positions, 50 gradually restricting themain burnerg-Iassupply,

gas-sis usual flhe-.fpilot .ports descrhedrbelew) amavabe Segarraneedfthamas;themain ses supply nis cutiofffutheinilot .eas supplyussladually .reestrictedfbutlnot reducedzto suchextentathatithe spiletzmiaut fante remainliehted.

At one side of the body 2, the same is enlarged at I2 to receive two pilot gas tube connections or plugs (none shown) entering the valve body at respective threaded sockets I4 and I5, preferably in the same horizontal plane. The socket I4 may be connected to a pilot branch feed line from a suitable main which also supplies the main burner gas to the threaded socket 3. Such a connection is for an automatic control as described in Patent 2,238,495. The threaded socket I5 receives, in any event, a branch line leading to the pilot burner. When the burner equipment is used for manual pilot control, the socket I4 is customarily sealed with a threaded plug.

In order to provide an adjustable pilot gas supply directly from the inlet socket, a short bore I6 leads axially from the threaded socket- |4 into intersection with a vertical bore I1 which is open at the top of the valve body and which', in turn, intersects an oblique bore |8 whose outer end opens into the threaded socket 3 so as to be open to the main gas supply line.

A suitable needle control adjustment assembly is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, comprising an adjustment screw 20 having a conical-pointed end (not shown) aligned with the vertical bore I1 and adapted variably to restrict or close said bore. Assuming a cap or plug occupies the threaded socket I4, the pilot gas admitted to the short bore I6 past the needle valve is communicated with the main plug receiving bore 5 through an oblique passage 2|, whose outer end enters the socket I4. The passage 2| enters the main bore 5 in a plane below the main gas control passage I I of the plug. Communication between the inner end of the passage 2| and the pilot gas outlet socket I5 is through a short passage 22, shown as axially aligned with the socket I5. In the particular design shown, the passage 22 is at right angles to the main inlet and outlet ports 6 and 1.

Communication between the inner ends of the bores 2| and 22, Fig. 4, is established by a side recess or slot 23 in the plug I0, shown as parallel to the main passage II of the plug but below said passage and in the common plane of the passages 2| and 22. In the illustrated position of the plug I (same in all views), an adjustable supply of pilot gas is admitted to the pilot from the inlet socket 3, assuming the socket I4 is capped or plugged. Alternatively, in the same position of the plug (automatic control operation mentioned), a constant supply of pilot gas can be admitted to the socket I4 through a suitable tting (not shown) and connected to the outlet I and thence to the pilot. In that event, the needle valve would be closed so that none of the pilot gas supply would come directly from the main inlet 3.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 5, the upper generally cylindrical portion 25 of the body is reduced and threaded as at 26 beyond the upper end of the plug I0, which latter has an upwardly open diametral slot 21 and an upwardly open axial socket 28 intersecting the slots 21. Threaded to the body at 26 is a generally tubular cap or hood 30 having an inwardly overhanging top wall or flange 3| providing a round opening 3 I aligned with the plug. The flange retains, in operating position, a locking and valve-positioning stem assembly 32, see Fig. 6.

The operating stem 34 is of generally cylindrical form extending (slide flt) through a control or safety locking sleeve 5| whose functions will be described later. Said sleeve 5I extends loosely through the top opening 3|. The stemV 34 has a central enlarged portion 35, flat at one side as at 36 (explained later); and a lower reduced diameter portion 31 of the stem extends a short distance into the socket 28 of the plug to compress a coil spring 38 (Fig. 3) bearing downwardly against the bottom of the plug socket 28 so that, in reacting upwardly on the stem, the spring holds the plug seated in the tapered bore 5. A cross pin 39 fixed in the reduced end portion 31 pivotally engages the opposite respective ends of the cross slot 21 of the plug, so that the stern 34 can be turned to adjust the plug I0 with reference to the various passages above described.

To hold the stem 34 in the position described above, a locking sleeve 40 is non-rotatably supported within the sleeve or hood 30. The locking sleeve, as shown particularly by Fig. 6, has a pair of diametrally extending lugs 4I at its lower edge, which seat into complementary notches in the threaded tubular extension 25 of the body 2. In order to insure that the locking sleeve and the other movable parts located thereby will always be assembled in proper relationship to the body passages and bores, the lugs 4I and their receiving recesses are aligned off center with respect to the axis of the plug or otherwise non-symmetrically arranged about said axis. Thus, the locking sleeve has only one position in which it can be assembled onto the valve body within the hood 30. The top of the locking sleeve 40 is tightly abutted by the inwardly extending flange 3| of the cap or hood 3U when the latter is screwed tightly into its final position on the threaded part of the body extension 25. The inner bore 44 of the locking sleeve terminates downwardly in an inwardly extending flange 45 and the flange overhangs a washer 46 in slightly spaced relation thereto when the flange is resting upon the top surface 41 of the plug I0. Thus the washer limits the upward movement of the pin 39 in the slot 21, while enabling a slight tilting movement of the stem 34 in a vertical plane coincident with the axis of the cross pin. Additionally, slight pivotal movement of the operating stem in the cross slot 21 is enabled by the loose fit of the sleeve 5I in the cap opening 3|; so that a control rod (shown at 50), if connected rigidly with the stern 34, as it preferably is, can have a limited amount of lateral movement in all directions at its top end.

The xed locking sleeve 40 slidably and rotatably receives the safety control or locking sleeve 5I which, in turn, is slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the large diameter portion 35 of the operating stern 34. As shown particularly at the top of Fig. 6, the locking sleeve 5I has a central bore 52 which slidably fits the circular surface portions of the enlarged diameter portion 35 of the stem 34; and a D-shaped flange 53 near the lower end of the stem 34 is complementary to the flat side 36 of the said enlarged portion 35 of the stem. The D-shaped flange 53, of tht` locking sleeve 5|, in the position thereof illustrated in Fig. 3, is retained against gravitatin;l downwardly by a spring pressed spherical detenc element 54 (ball and spring 55, Fig. 5) projecting a short distance from the flat face 36, just beneath the flange 53, in the raised position of the safety control or locking sleeve. The locking sleeve 5I has a relatively narrow radial lug 5l projecting outwardly adjacent or opposite the internal D-shaped flange 53, and this cooperates with circumferentially spaced shoulders 51 and 58 on the locking sleeve 4|) to limit the normal turning of the plug ID. The shoulders define end walls of an upwardly 'lopen arcuate slot 59 on thelOGking:sleeve` lill.'

The lug b of the sleeve 5l andthe said shoulders 5l andA 5&of the-sleeveii cooperate to determine theu amount" f 'possible rotary adjustment of the operating stem k:311 When the locking sleeve 5i is held in its -norm'alj -raisednposition (Fig. 3l, by the ball detent 521, When the lug 5E is against the shoulder 5l (position according to Figs. 3 and el, the maincros's passagel l i'of the plug i egister-s fully with the 'inletfyand outlet ports and i-for f-ullfgas* supply to-the main burner. When the lug 55 is against the shoulder 5t, the cross passage is out of register with both said ports, cutting off main burner supply but not the pilot. Intermediate positions variably restrict the burner gas supply as usual.

Suitable audible signal means (not illustrated may be provided in the valve control assembly 32, as taught by my said patents, to indicate various valve stations, including full on, simmer, ofi and any other desired positions.

As by Figs. l., 2 and 3, the control rod 5t, only a sm .il portion of which is illustrated, may be secured rigidly to the upper reduced end of the stem 3d as by a set screw 6I. A similar screw 62, or a cross pin, may be used to attach the control handle 53 positioned above the usual grill, diagrammatically indicated at t4. The handle and control rod 50 may be pulled upwardly a limited amount but, because of the pin and slot connection of the operating stem 3F, with the plug lil, lifting of the control rod cannot unseat the plug.

The grill ed (or a small panel portion or escutcheon plate 65 thereof, shown diagrammatically as detachably secured to the main grill as by screws Sd) forms a somewhat loose tting supporting bearing (not shown) for the upper Aend of the rod 50. The grill or the panel i5 may, in lieu of such audible signal means as mentioned, be provided with position indications (not shown) in association with the handle 63 to inform the user of various valve plug positions.

When the lug 55 of the safety locking sleeve 5l has been turned against the shoulder 58 to establish the off position for the main gas supply, the pilot passages are still open to supply gas through the threaded socket l5 to the pilot burner, irrespective of the manner in which pilot gas is admitted to the oblique passage 2l, Fig. 4. Turning off of the pilot requires only that the solid plug portion or valve land region indicated at 68, Fig. 4, be moved into closing relation to the pilot feed passage 22.

To enable low pilot flame adjustment and pilot gas cut-off positioning of the plug lil, the slot 59 of the locking sleeve 40 has a downward extension le, one side of which is a continuation of the shoulder 58, which extension terminates at its lower end in a circumferential branch slot ll. When the locking sleeve 5I, in the olf position of the plug i in respect to main gas supply, is depressed by causing the lug 56 of the safety locking sleeve 5| to travel along the vertical slot 'l0 to the level of the branch slot 7|, the operating stem 35 with the locking sleeve 5I may then be turned to adjust and finally out off the pilot gas supply as mentioned above.

Operation of the locking sleeve 5l is preferably under the control of a link 'l2 secured as by a hooked end 13, preferably occupying the D-shaped space between the flat side 36 of the operating stem and the inner bore 52 of the locking sleeve 5l and entering an opening 'I3' ln saidsleeve': The linkL 12- extendsy upwardly along and parallel to' the controlro'dlll "to 'within a short'distance'v from "the lower side' of the vv'grill *Etf o'rffthel insert 'panel ror escutcheon as illustrated, mayjbe Ypivotally connected asA at "le withjanfopera'ting armv l5, havingparallel arni portions `lli''embracing the'rod and pivotally secured" therett') as "byK any suitable pin il. The arm *'l5l rendered 'accessible to 'the' furnace user,A or service man, only by lifting' of'th'e grill or *by-removal* of the escutcheon plate G5, if the grill has such a plate. Thus control of the locking sleeve 5I, in order to enable movement of the plug lll to out off the pilot gas to the pilot feed passage 22, or to adjust the pilot flame to an unusually low position, requires a sufliciently difficult operation so that turning od or such adjustment of the pilot will not ordinarily be accomplished. Usually turning orf of the pilot flame is desirable only at the end of the cold Weather season in order to save the expense of burning the pilot throughout protracted warm weather periods. After the pilot has been turned off, the escutcheon plate or grill is of course replaced and then it is impossible, by operation of the handle 63 alone, again to turn on more than pilot gas supply without lifting the grill or the escutcheon plate. Turning on of pilot gas supply, even without relighting, is not particularly dangerous and if done y one unfamiliar with the characteristics of the installation, he or she will usually turn the pilot ofi` again when it is observed that the main burner does not start. Thus some person familiar with the installation will be called upon to re-establish use of the furnace after a protracted idle period. An experienced user or service man, after removing the escutcheon plate or lifting the grill and eecting proper manipulation of the control link l2, will, as a matter of course, make certain of the existence of pilot flame before turning on the gas supply to the main burner.

I claim:

1. In a gas control valve, a valve body, a plug turnable in the body, operating means theren for, main and auxiliary gas control passages in the body and cooperating separate main and auxiliary passages in the plug, a turn-limiting means including circumferentially spaced abut ments on the body and cooperating abutment means connected with the plug and movable between said abutments to control the main gas passages, additional circumferentially spaced abutments on the body cooperating with said turn-limiting means to control said auxiliary passages, and releasable rigid means normally blocking turning movement of the plug for preventing operation of the plug between the additional abutments by said operating means.

2. In a main and pilot burner gas control valve mechanism, a valve body having main and pilot burner supplying passages intersecting a valve seat and a rotary plug having main and pilot burner gas control passages intersecting said seat, a guide on the body having abutment surfaces in different planes transverse to the axis of the plug, an operating stem for the plug, and a sleeve drivingly rigid with the stem y and slidable therealong to different positions and having abutment means cooperable with the abutment surfaces of the body respectively to limit the turning movement of the plug to difassess? l ferent control positions in accordance with the REFERENCES CITED shifted position of the Sleeve- The following references are of record in the 3. The valve construction according to claim 2, me of this v tent: wherein the guide on the body is a sleeve slotted pa to provide said abutment surfaces of the body 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS and assemblable on the body in only one turned Number Name Date position about the axis of the rotary plug. 759,341 Brown May 10, 1904 4. The valve construction according to claim 2 894,957 Kennedy Aug. 4, 1908 including a spring detent normally preventing 1,181,315.l Johnson May 2, 1916 sliding of the sleeve from one of its positions 10 1,944,456 Pearson Jan. 23, 1934 to the other. 2,118,232I Roberts May 24, 1938 CASPER S. STUCKENHOLT. 2,259,592 Suvak Oct. 21, 1941 

